Vacuum spotting board



Nov. 3, 1953 F. H. RICHTERKESSING 2,657,566

' VACUUM SPOTTING BOARD Filed March a, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 inventor FRANK H R/Cfi/TERKESS/Ne Gttomeg F. H. RICHTERK'ESSING 2,657,566

VACUUM SPOTTING BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snventor FRANK M R/CWTERKESS/N (Ittorneg Nov. 3, 1953 Filed March 6, 1950 Nov. 3, 1953 F. H. RICHTERKE'SSING VACUUM SPOTTING BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 6, 1950 (Ittorneg Patented Nov. 3, 1953 VACUUM SPOTTING BOARD Frank H. Richterkessing, Jefferson County, near Louisville, Ky., assignor to W. M. Cissell Manufacturing Company, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application March 6, 1950, Serial No. 147,943 4 (c1. ss 240) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a vacuum spotting board of the class which embodies a main spotting board for supporting various garments, fabrics and the like during spotting operations thereon, and an auxiliary or sleeve board for supporting sleeves or other relatively small sections of such garments or fabrics, in position for spotting operations thereon.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a construction embodying such a main spotting board and sleeve board wherein the sleeve board is swingable parallel to the work supporting surface of the main board to and from an operative position, and such movement serves to operate a valve which functions to disconnect simultaneously the suction line of one board from a suction device or passage while connecting the suction line of the other board thereto.

A further object is to provide a valve of novel construction for transferring the suction from one to the other of said boards in accordance with the position of the sleeve board.

A still further object is to provide in such a valve a resilient element functioning both as a fluid seal between relatively movable parts of the valve body, and as a compression spring resiliently urging said movable parts into substantially fluid tight engagement with cooperating valve elements.

A still further object is to render the supporting leg or standard for these spotting boards vertically extensible, whereby the height of the boards may be adjusted as desired for the convenience and comfort of the operator, while at the same time providing in said standard a fluid tight trap for interposition in the vacuum line between said boards and any usual suction device, to remove solvents, foreign matter or soil removed by the solvent and condensate from the suction line before such matter is drawn through the suction device with possible deleterious effects.

In this application I show and describe only the preferred embodiment of my invention, simply by way of illustration of the practice thereof as by law required. However I recognize that the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and that the several details of the invention may .be altered in various manners, all without departing from my invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description herein are to be considered as merely illustrative and not as exclusive.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a vacuum spotting board in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2, an end elevation of the spotting board shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3, a front elevation thereof partly in section on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4, a detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the arrangement of the steam chest with its several control valves;

Figure 5, an enlarged plan view of the spotting board of Figure 1 with the sleeve board swung to inoperative position and showing same in broken lines as it will appear when in operative position;

Figure 6, a detail cross-section on the line 66 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing details of the suction control valve construction;

Figure '7, a cross-section on the line l'( of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8, a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9, a section on the line 99 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 10, an enlarged fragmentary section'of the suction control valve and related structure, same being in the same plane as that in which the corresponding parts are shown in Figure 3.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the reference character l therein designates a usual spotting board base of cast metal construction having a supporting column or standard 2 projecting upwardly therefrom on which is supported a main spotting board 3 and a horizontally swingable sleeve board t, which may be swung either to the operative position indicated above the main board 3 as indicated in broken lines in Figure 5, or to the inoperative position away from and out of registry with the main board 3 as shown in full lines in Figure 5. In accordance with usual practice, a tray 5 may also .be supported on the standard 2 to support the garments or fabrics above the floor.

In the form shown, the base is provided with a plurality of control pedals 6, 7 and 8 which are separately operatively connected through usual mechanical linkages with valves 6a, 6b, and l, 8 respectively to control the flow of various fluids through said valves from a chamber 9' which may be mounted on the base I as shown.

The major portion of chamber 9 constitutes a steam chest which is adapted to be supplied with steam under pressure through suitable pipes (not shown) connected to the inlet and outlet open through a flexible tube I3 to a usual steam spot-.

ting or spray gun M which is adapted for use in usual manner in steam spotting operations on garments supported on either of the boards 3 0r 4.

steam chamber to have only steam supplied therethrough, while the water valve 6b (see Figure 3) controls the discharge of water through a stand- It will be seen that the steam valve 6a communicates directly with the upper portion of the forced upwardly through said stand pipe and valve to when the latter is opened.

The two valves 6a and 6p have their discharge sides connected by a pipe 19 the medial portion of which is connected through'a transverse-pipe H to the flexible tube 13 leading to the spray gun 14. Thus whenever desired, water may be injected at any desired rate through the valve N) into the flow of steam to the spray gun from valve Ba. Since, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the actuating a m o he wate valve 6b nor ll ssum s a closed osition seat d s h be w he ae u tins m of te m va ve 6a. and n y th latt is directl c nne ed. t rou h th li ka e l to contr eda 6 t e pedal i e epre s d. to such a d re a to ope o l the st am. va ve nd thus perm t on y a f ow o relatively ry steam to the spotting gun M, or it may be de pre sed uf i ientl t caus enga emen betwe the actuatin a m of he p ctive v lv e and ib; to. t ere y mor the tua in arm of valve 6b downwardly and thereby cause water to be c ed intot e s ea he valve when. opened by depres io f ioet ue al' p i s. a flow of steam under ressu from t e. cham er- 9. t r h sa d valve 1' ends p ne f8 communicati therewith to a u u l steam i ieet r l9 exemplif n any of various usualmeans which may be mpl y d to cr ate a suction or partial vacuum through the boards 3 and A, as herei-nafter described.

A small portion of thechamber 9 is. preferably formed. asa compressed air chamber or compartment 2.0, (Figure 2.). in. accordancewith usualprace ticetov be 'suplied with heated compressed air through a suitable inlet 6!]. In the instant .em-v bodiment, thevalve. 8' in communication with this air. compartment may be opened as desired by depression of the pedal: 8. to permit air to flow therefrom for use. in any. usual drying device. I find it convenient to. render. the spotting gun Hi capableof use. as a dryer, and to this end prefer tqiconnect the. discharge line. 21 from the air val-Ye 8." to. the. pipev IT: to which the spray. gun tube. 13 is connected.

The. standard. 2: is: preferably rendered verti-. cally extensibleso that the spotting boards 3. and 4; may bepositionedat levels most comfortable and convenient for operators of varying heights and preferences, and also is preferably formed with a fiuidgtight solvent chamber ortrap 22- therein to. be interposedin the suction passage betweentthe suction. device or injector l9 and theboards it and: 4. The function of such. a trap 22 is to. remove solvents; condensate, lint and other foreign. substances from the air drawn through the;boards 3.- and- 4, to prevent such matter frombeing. drawn into the suction device with possibledeleterious results.

To'this; end, thestandard 2 of the preferred embodiment is formed of two tubularrelatively telescopically disposedstandard sections 2aand 21) respectively which may be secured in any desired position within their range of adjustment by n eans such as a set screw 2 3 threaded-through the wall of the lower outer section 211 into engagement with the movable upper section 2b. with such arrangement, apartition Pacross the interior oftlie lower section '2a defines the bottonr of the trap 22 which is of; course disposed at a level considerably below the level; of the passage 2h leading from the trap to the low pressure side 4 of the injector l9. If desired a suitable outlet or drum cook D may be employed in connection with the trap 22 to drain moisture therefrom into a receptacle R supported on the base I.

In this arrangement, the inner standard section will generally project downwardly past the injector passage 24, and it has accordingly been found ailvisable to provide a substantial annular space between the walls of the respective sections 204 and 2b to avoid obstructing said injector passage 24. Therefore, the inner section 211 is formed of relatively smaller diameter than the outer section 2a and is received in an annular inwardly projecting flange 25 adjacent the upper endof said outerseotionda. Anannular gasket 25 of rubber or other suitable packing materialis cementedor otherwise-suitably secured above the flange 25 between the relatively spaced walls of the sections 2a and 2b to prevent leakage of all into the vacuum chamber or trap 22.

The movable upper standard section 22) has its upper end covered by a preferably integral lower valve plate 21 having a smooth horizontally presented upper surface and formed with a suction port 28 extendin medially therethrough and thereby communicating with the suction device or i j ctor l9, throu h th trap 2 The. ma n. spott n board 3 nt d n th standard 2 is of conventional construc-tigm, em.- odyin a usual. upwardly p insp i. prefer-- ably of stainless steel; construction, a substantially fiat. work surfacev -311- Qf liquid impervious stainless mate ial such as vitrolite. lass, po cela orthe like. supported n and covering said pan fo th major portion of its; length, but: te m ating sho t ofthe free, end. thereof. Said fr e. end. i arranged substantiallyas disclosed the Shoop ct. al. Patentv 239 -3516 to provide a suction means for removing the solvent and absorbed foreign matter from garments and other fabric articles placed thereover. Accordingly, as shown in-E'igure 9, the said end is provided with a. porous cover-including a, rigid perforated cover plate. 32, which may be of stainless. steel, and a porous mesh-covering 323: which should be of stainless steel screen. Such solventv and foreign. matter is drawn through. this porous cover into: the. vaccum orsuction line 34' extending longitudinally with.- inthe board 3: with its; intake opening- 35. disposed directlybeneath preferably centrally of the said porous cover 3-2, 3;3,.al1 as. best shown in Fig.- ures 3 and 5'. Solventor foreign. matter entering chamber 35' is drawn. or drained into. the sue-t tion line-34 through; openings. 29A in the opposite Walls of suction line 34, as indicated in Fig; 9;

Gommunicating at all times. with the vacuum line 3d. is an evacuation portor opening 35: which extends through'thebottom. of the= pan 29: and an upper valve plate 3:? connected theretoand in spaced: parallel: relation above the lowervalve plate 21 In theinstant-embodiment the upper valve plate-3]- is fixedly secured directly to the lower plate 2*?- in properly spacecl horizontar relation thereabove, as by bolts 3'8 having spacer sleeves 39 therearound and abutting against both of said plates. The main board 3 is thus sup ported on the, upper plate 3];

Not only does the vacum 0r suction line 34' of the board 3 communicate with the evacuation pert 6., ut italso d si abl a wnin'risure 8, to provide a small, drain. passage 41] from. th dr in anza int a d port. to thus carry away liqui s. whieh'. may. er e. pa '9" e teriorly of*the vacuum line 34, 'V

A movable valve element or'body 42 is pivotal- 7 iv mounted between-the valve plates 2'l--31,*as

at 43, for swinging movement between the opposed horizontal surfaces of said plates and across the ports 28 and 36 therein, between limits which may be defined by transversely opposed spacer sleeves 39.

Carried by and swingable with said valve element 42 is the hollow supporting arm 44 having an upwardly directed free end portion 45 on which is fixedly mounted the swinging sleeve board 4 at a level somewhat above the main board 3.

Such a sleeve board 4, except for being of relatively smaller size, is constructed and functions in substantially the same manner as the main board 3. Accordingly the sleeve board is provided at its free end with a porous work surface consisting of the perforated cover plate 32 and screen mesh 33' thereon, beneath which is disposed the intake opening 35 of a vacuum line 34- extending beneath the work surface of said sleeve board and communicating through the bottom thereof with the hollow interior of the swinging arm of pipe 44. The arm 44 in turn communicates with I a downwardly opening passage or port 46 in the lower horizontal face of the valve element 42.

The port or passage 43 opens at such a location in the valve element 42 as to register with the suction port 28 of the lower valve plate when the sleeve board 4 is swung to operative position above the main board 3, as shown in broken lines in Figure 5. In such position the valve element will abut against one of the spacer sleeves 39 which thus serves as a stop to accurately determine said position.

As is clearly shown in Figures 3 and 6 of the drawings, a through port or passage 41 extends completely through the valve element 42 between the upper and lower horizontal faces thereof in a location to establish communication between the suction port 28 in the lower valve plate and the evacuation port 36 in the upper valve plate, when the sleeve board 4 is swung to its inoperative position out of vertical registry with the main board 3, as indicated in full lines in Figure 5.

While the valve element 42 may be constructed in any of various manners, considering the invention from its broader aspects, I prefer to form such element in the novel manner hereinafter described to minimize the leakage of air therethrough into the vacuum passages. According to such preferred construction, as best shown in Figures 6 and 10, the valve element 42 comprises two separate sections 48 and 49 respectively, the upper section 49 being guided for vertical movement on the lower section 48 by means of an integral sleeve 50 slidable in a bore 5| through the lower section, the sleeve 5!] and bore 5| together defining the through passage 41 aforementioned. In order to permit free vertical movement of the upper section 49 into engagement with the upper plate 31, the supporting hollow arm 44 for the sleeve board is secured only to the lower section 48 and the pivotal connection 43 is similarly made only between the lower section 48 and the lower valve plate 21. An annular gasket 52 of rubber or other resiliently compressible material is disposed about the sleeve 59 and compressed between the two sections as they are placed between the respective plates 21 and 31, so that the gasket will tend to resiliently urge these two sections into engagement with their respective valve plates 21 and 31. Obviously the gasket 52 will function as a fluid seal to prevent leakage of air into the port or passage 41 between the respective sections 48 and 49.

In order to close the evacuation port 36 in the upper valve plate 31 and thereby prevent leakage of solvents therefrom during use of the sleeve board, it has been found desirable to provide the upper valve section 49 with a lateral extension 53 which, if desired may have a vertical projection 54 slidably disposed in a recess in the lower section 48, as shown in Figure 8, to prevent relative rotary movement of the two sections.

In the operation of a spotting board in accordance with the invention, where it is desired to use the main spotting board 3 the sleeve board 4 is swung to the inoperative position shown in full lines in Figure 5, thereby moving the valve element 42 so that its through passage 41 establishes communication between the suction port 28 and the evacuation port 36 for the main board. Following this, garments or other fabric articles may be placed on the main work surface 29 thereof and spotted either by usual chemical solvents or by steam and or water applied through the spotting gun [4. Following this, the spotted portions of the garment may be placed on the porous surface 33 of the board. Actuation of the suction device l9 by depression of its control pedal 5 will then create a downward suction through said spotted portions and porous surface 33 to draw the moisture from the material into the vacuum line 34. The drying process may of course be expedited by applying hot air to the material by means of the spray or spotting gun I4, the discharge of air from said gun being controlled by depression of the foot pedal 8.

Where it is desired to use the sleeve board 4, it may be swung into the operaive position illustrated in Figure 1 and, in broken lines in Figure 5. It will be seen that this swings the valve element 42 to such a position as to place the vacuum line 34' of board 4 in communication through the valve 42 and vacuum chamber or trap 22 with the suction device or injector l9. Consequently, depression of the foot pedal 1 will create a suction through the sleeve board, so that it may be used in the same manner as the main board.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum spotting board, a vacuum chamber and means for maintaining a partial vacuum therein, a horizontal plate mounted on said chamber and having a suction port therethrough communicating with said chamber, a main spotting board mounted in spaced relation above said plate and having a vacuum line operatively associated therewith, means connected to the under surface of said board defining a smooth horizontal surface spaced above said plate, said surface having an evacuation port opening downwardly therethrough from said vacuum line, in combination with a valve element pivotally mounted between said plate and said surface and in snug engagement with each for swinging movement across said ports, a sleeve board carried by said valve element for swinging movement therewith between an operative position above said main board and an inoperative position out of vertical registry with said main board, a vacuum line being operatively associated With said sleeve board, said valve element having a fluid passage therethrough located to establish communication between said suction port and said evacuation port in the inoperative position of said sleeve board, and a separate passage therethrough in permanent communication with the vacuum line of said sleeve board, said last passage openingdownwardly through said. valve 7 element in a location to register with said suction port when the sleeve board is swung to operative position.

2. A vacuum spotting board comprising a base, an upright vertically adjustable standard comprising telescopically disposed hollow sections supported on said base, and a pair of spotting boards supported by said adjustable standard, vacuum lines being associated with said respective boards to draw moisture therethrough, said sections jointly defininga-chamber internally of said standard, a seal being interposed between the adjacent walls of said sections to render-said chamber fluid tight while permitting relative movement or saidsections, means for maintaining said sections in any desired position of 'adjustment, means communicating with said chamber above the-bottom thereof for creating a suction therethroughythe upper end-of said chamber beingdefined b y a valve plateextending across the upperend of one ofsaidsections and formed with 'a'medial suction'port therethrough, a valve element being swingable across said plate to selecti'vely establish communication between said suction portand the vacuum lines of either of said boards, said chamber defining a trap for moisture entering same throughsaid suctionport, and adrain cock communicatingwi-th said chamber 'to remove the accumulated moisture therefrom.

3,111 a vacuum spotting board, a supporting base, a standard projecting upwardly from said base, a vacuum chamber formedin said standard and means for maintaining a partial vacuum in said chamber, ahorizontal valve plate extending across-theupp'er end ofsaid standard and havin :a suction por-t-therethrough "communicating with said chamber, a main'spotting board having a vacuum line operatively associated therewith, an upper 'valveplate mounted in spaced parallel relation above said lower valve plate, an evacuation port :being formed throughsaid upper vplate :in vertical registry with the suction port in said lower valve ,plate, thevacuum line for said :main .board communicating with said evacuation gport, in combination with a valve elementpivotally .mou-nted between said plates for swinging movement across said ports, a sleeve board carried by said valve element for swinging 'movement therewith between an operative position above :said main board and an inoperative position out of vertical registry with said main board, said valve element having a fluid passage disposed therethrough in a'location between said ports in "the inoperative position of saidsleeve board,.-and

a separate passage therethrough in communication with the vacuum line of said sleeve board, .said passage opening downwardly through said valve element in a location to register with said suction port .when the sleeve board is moved to operative position.

4. In a vacuum spotting board of the class wherein a sleeve board is swim-gable to and from an operative position in relation to the main board, and both of said boards are provided with suction lines for drawing fluids therethrough, the combination with said :boards of a support having a pair of ports and adapted-to provide a bearing foramovable valve element, a source of suction 1m fixed communication with one ,port,

the other port'being-in communication with-the suction line of said main board, said valve element being disposed :and .movable in said support andrhavingn passage means therethrough for registry with the respective ports to establish communication therebetween thereby providing suction for the mainboard, and ahollow supporting arm for said sleeve board mounted on said valve element for movement therewith, said valve element having a sleeve board passage and opening therein to register with the suction line port when said sleeve board is swung to operative-position,said hollow supporting arm establishing communication between said sleeve board passage and the vacuum line of the-sleeve board.'

5. A vacuum spotting boardcomprising in combination a main spotting board and a sleeve board mounted above said main spotting board and swingable with respect to the main board. into and away from an operative position, each of said boards being provided with a vacuum line for drawing fluids therethrough, a source of vacuum, a three-way valve connected between said source of vacuum and said vacuum lines, a movable valve element in said valve which in one position selectively serves to connect said source of vacuum to one of said vacuum lines while theother line is shut ofi, while in another position it serves to connect said source of vacuum to the other of said vacum lines, said sleeve board being movable with and mounted on said valve element in such position that when the sleeve board is swung into its operative position the movable valve element connects the source of vacuum to the vacuum line of the sleeve board and when thesleeve-board is swung into its inoperative position the movable valve element connects the source of vacuum to the vacuum line of the mainboard.

6. A vacuum spotting board comprising incombination a supporting base, an upright verticallyadjustable tubular standard comprising telescopically disposed hollow sections forming a vacuum chamber, means for maintaining a partial vacuum in said chamber, a main spotting board mounted on said standard, a sleeve board also mounted on said standard above said main board and swingable into and away from an operative position, each of said boards being provided with vacuum lines for drawing fluids therethrough, a

three-way valve connected between said vacuum chamber and said vacuum lines, a movable valve element in said valve adapted selectively to conne'ct sai d vacuum chamber with one of said vacuum lines while the other -line is shut off, the said sleeve board being movable with and mounted on said valve element in such position that when it is swung into its operative position the valveelement thereby connects the vacuum lineof the sleeve board to the vacuum chamber and that when it is swung into its inoperative position the valve element .connects the vacuum chamber'to the vacuum line of the main board.

FRANK H. RICH'I'ERKESSING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

